Curl up in Front of a Warm Fire With a New Book to Read This Fall [adsense]When the leaves start to turn colours and the outdoor temperature gets colder, sometimes the best thing to do with your leisure time is to curl up in front of a warm fire and crack the cover of a new book. [adsense-mobile] This fall brings many long-anticipated new releases, both fiction and non-fiction. New Fiction Reads The Heart Goes Last (Margaret Atwood) Released at the end of September, The Heart Goes Last recounts a married couple’s story within a frightening future society, in which a total economic collapse has affected the entire world. While living in an experimental facility appears to be the answer to the couple’s financial difficulties, there is a definite catch: every participant has to take a turn at being a guard and a prisoner. The Society of Experience (Matt Cahill) Matt Cahill is a native of Toronto, Canada and a certified psychotherapist. His debut novel hit bookstores on October 1st. The Society of Experience is actually a secret organization dealing in scientific experiments and “hypotheticals.” After the main character’s father dies, he takes part in a society experiment involving time travel. Doing so takes him on a rollercoaster ride of emotions and experiences. Death by Water (Kenzaburo Oe) Oe’s latest novel, Death by Water, was released in early October. It deals with a writer who returns to his hometown with the intention of gaining information on how and why his father drowned during World War II, aiming to turn this true story into a work of fiction. Career of Evil (Robert Galbraith) Robert Galbraith, J.K. Rowling’s alter ego, returns with another Cormoran Strike crime fiction book. Career of Evil was released October 20. After a package containing a severed leg…

Tips for Buying a Tablet [adsense]When tablets first hit the market, Apple’s iPad became the instant “one to have.” It was easy to see why — it was a breeze to operate and no other company had as many apps available. [adsense-mobile] Now, there are hundreds to choose from in every price range, starting, the last time I checked, at just $42. Tablets have become “the” electronic to have. They’re portable, you can watch movies, read and write emails, catch up with what’s happening in the world, have a book and audio library of thousands of titles, take photographs, work, talk to friends and family around the world… it’s almost endless. I’m sure you’ve seen the ads fighting for your dollars. They all look great, don’t they? And they sound great. But walking into a store to buy one is like walking through a corn maze. There are so many choices — almost too many! This article is going to try to help you through the weeds. What Do You Want It For? The question that needs to be at the top of your list is: “How do I intend to use my tablet?” Do you want a tablet to use for reading, watching TV shows and movies while you’re traveling, or do you want your tablet to be the only device you use? Do you want to connect to the Internet constantly? Do you want to be able to add to the device’s storage size? Do you want to watch movies in high definition? Do you want it to have navigation capabilities? Do you want high resolution? The answers to these questions will dictate in which direction you should head. Next, consider which operating system you’re familiar with. I’ve always found that going with what I know is a…

Living Your Life to the Fullest [adsense]In a recent survey of 1,500 British women who were all over the age of 50, 50% said they were more content than at any other point in their lives. Many said they actually enjoyed better sex, led more active lifestyles and enjoyed better relationships with their partners. [adsense-mobile] Today.com also conducted an online survey of 1,500 people between 45 and 69 years of age. Sixty-two percent of respondents in their 50s indicated they were satisfied with their lives. This percentage was an increase, from fifty-seven percent, of those participants who were in their late 40s. More respondents in their 50s said they were satisfied in their marriages as well as in other family relationships, and finances also improved. Seventy-one percent claimed they were living comfortably or had a little left over after paying their expenses. “Fifty-somethings” say they feel more balanced, less stressed and wiser than when they were younger. Sixty-six percent of those who completed the survey stated they had more time for leisure activities. A similar number of respondents had more time for their romantic partners and additional opportunities to learn new things. In the past, turning 50 years old was thought to be the end of living a “vibrant” life. However, times have changed and it’s time to celebrate! Interestingly, close to seventy-five percent of people in their 50s who were surveyed by TODAY, said the age of 50 really is younger than it was when their parents were the same age. In fact, seventy percent of respondents claimed they feel younger than their actual age. How to Enjoy the Prime of Your Life While you may have a few more sags here and there than you once did, you can make up for what you may think is lacking…

Feeling Young at Heart [adsense]Watch your step, don’t bang your head! If parents and grandparents had a nickel for every time they said that, we’d all be rich. Kids are fearless and love to try new things, even if they’re a little wobbly or unsure of the results. Can you remember the last time you really felt young? When was the last time you belly laughed until you hiccupped or swooshed down a water slide? [adsense-mobile] We’ve all heard the saying that being young is a state of mind, but that state of mind gets harder and harder to achieve when our daily habits revolve strictly around adult responsibilities, adult activities and concerns. Life does get burdensome at times. But you can feel like a kid again if you can learn to shake it off for an hour or two and just play. Revisit Sights, Sounds and Smells Sometimes all it takes is spending a little time doing something that reminds us of childhood, or that invokes memories through taste and smell. For some, it’s a physical activity that brings back carefree feelings, like blowing giant bubbles, splashing in puddles, running through sprinklers, dancing barefoot on the lawn, or riding a beach cruiser. Kathy Kelly in Templeton, CA likes to “stomp in puddles, drink root beer floats, and eat ice cream.” For others, it’s sights, sounds, smells and taste that bring back the giggles. Swimming in a lake brings back memories of splash fights, paddle races, dunking, and long afternoons spent wet while reading a book and having no other cares in the world. For a lot of people, any kind of water sport relaxes the soul and put us in touch with our inner kid. Pepe Padilla in San Jose, Costa Rica says that surfing helps him feel young….

Is supporting your adult children financially holding you back? [adsense]It’s a recession; times are tough. It’s harder than ever for young adults to strike out and find successful careers. [adsense-mobile] At least, this is what we hear American parents saying when their grown, adult children are still living at home and enjoying the privileges of pampered teenagers — a car allowance, insurance, rent and utilities, cellphone, and a personal allowance. But is it really that hard for young adults to make it on their own? When is it time to pull the plug? The question isn’t should we or shouldn’t we ever support our kids — it’s how to recognize when enough is enough. Or when perhaps our support is actually crippling them, or eroding our ability to help them substantially in the future. Are You Sacrificing Your Own Security? Are your grown kids having a difficult time because, “It’s a recession?” Well guess what — if it’s a recession for them, it’s a recession for you, too! In fact, if you’re a Baby Boomer, you’ve lived through ten recessions. That means you’ve had a much harder time of it than your kids have ever experienced. It’s important to protect your own bottom line. Sacrificing your savings now may mean you’ll become a financial burden to them later, and if they never learn to achieve stability on their own, your fragility and reduced circumstances later on will leave you all in a financial pickle. Your kids should understand that by keeping your wallet closed, you’re protecting them from a future where they may have to support elderly parents with health issues. Are You Enforcing Negative Habits? It’s one thing to support a college education, because let’s face it, college loans are just not the way to go anymore. And many…

July 23, 2015 -

Tips to Avoid Getting Burnt out There are very real costs in terms of the physical, emotional and financial toll caregiving takes on a person. With a population that’s remaining alive much longer, the...